Dear Editor,
Colin Reeves quoted Samuel Sey’s statement: ‘Social justice is not a gospel issue’ (en, Jan 2020). But what do they both mean by social justice? No definition is given.
For many in my own community (Windrush kids), ‘social justice’ simply means being against injustice in society. They have none of the ideological and political baggage of hard-core progressives. They just identify something as wrong. The critiquing (and lack of actual lament) is largely ineffective and counter-productive, pushing people in to the arms of the progressives that both Colin and Samuel condemn.
The new question becomes: ‘Is injustice a gospel issue?’ We know that the gospel comes from a God of justice (Ps.33:5). We know the justice found in the OT Law(Ex. 22:16-23:9). We see prophets condemning injustice, for this is a major expression of sin in a culture(Isa. 1:16-17, Amos 5:23-24). We see positive examples (Ruth) and we also have the promise of a King, upholding His throne with righteousness and justice (Isa. 9:7).
In the NT, we have God’s answer to injustice – judgment. We also have God’s mercy, sending His Son die for the unjust. The Lord Jesus was the victim of gross injustice from the Sanhedrin and Pilate. It is also worth noting that some of His final public words were a condemnation of indifference to injustice (Matt. 23:23-24).
We have a rich teaching that needs to be used. We have points of agreement with progressives and points of departure. We should declare both. However, unfeeling apologetics and refusing to hear what people are really saying? It will not work.
Yours sincerely,
Andrew Gordon, NW London
